Ultraviolet Dual Comb Spectroscopy: A Roadmap

TL;DR

This paper explores the development of ultraviolet dual comb spectroscopy, aiming to enable high-resolution molecular fingerprinting in the UV range for studying photo-chemical reactions and electronic structures.

Contribution

It presents the first steps towards creating a UV dual comb spectrometer, including experimental and simulated studies for planned absorption measurements.

Findings

Achieved potential resolution of up to 10^{-9}

Demonstrated feasibility of UV dual comb spectroscopy with tabletop sources

Outlined milestones for developing a UV dual comb spectrometer

Abstract

Dual Comb Spectroscopy proved its versatile capabilities in molecular fingerprinting in different spectral regions, but not yet in the ultraviolet (UV). Unlocking this spectral window would expand fingerprinting to the electronic energy structure of matter.This will access the prime triggers of photo-chemical reactions with unprecedented spectral resolution. In this research article, we discuss the milestones marking the way to the first UV dual comb spectrometer. We present experimental and simulated studies towards UV dual comb spectroscopy, directly applied to planned absorption measurements of formaldehyde (centered at 343 nm, 3.6 eV) and argon (80 nm, 16 eV). This will enable an unparalleled relative resolution of up to $10^{-9}$ - with a table-top UV source surpassing any synchrotron linked spectrometer by at least two and any grating-based UV spectrometer by up to six orders of magnitude.